In an effort to hype controversy days before Pope Benedict XVI steps
down as the leader of the Catholic Church, on Monday's NBC Today, correspondent Anne Thompson proclaimed: "Even in his final days as pope, scandal continues to dog Benedict's papacy and the Church." The chyron on screen throughout the segment declared: "Vatican Intrigue." [Listen to the audio]

Beyond reporting on an actual controversy surrounding the resignation of Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Thompson
decided to also promote completely unfounded claims from the Italian
press that "headline rumors of blackmail and conspiracy that the Vatican
vehemently denies." NBC went through the effort of displaying
and translating one such salacious headline on screen: "Sex and
ambition, the blackmailing behind the resignation of Benedict XVI."

On Monday, citing criticism of American Cardinal Roger Mahoney and
Cardinal O'Brien's resignation, Thompson asserted that "scandal and
intrigue engulf some of the men who will choose the next pope." She
later noted that such "ugly headlines" may "shape the deliberations" in
electing a new Pontiff.

On ABC's Good Morning America,
correspondent David Wright used the same language, describing O'Brien
stepping down as "The latest and strongest example of how the papal
election campaign is getting ugly."

Here is a full transcript of Thompson's February 25 report:

7:00AM ET TEASE:

MATT LAUER: Fast track. Pope Benedict reveals moments ago he's
clearing the way to speed up the selection of his successor. This as a
top-ranking cardinal submits his resignation this morning under a cloud
of controversy.

7:07AM ET SEGMENT:

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We're following at the moment, some breaking news
coming out of the Vatican this morning, including a decision from Pope
Benedict to change some rules used to select his replacement. Let's get
to NBC's Anne Thompson, she's at the Vatican this morning. Ann, good
morning to you.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Vatican Intrigue; Pope Clears Way for Early Conclave]

ANNE THOMPSON: Good morning, Savannah. There's lots of breaking news
here. First of all, the Pope has given the cardinals permission to move
up the start date of the Conclave, which will choose his successor.
Secondly, a cardinal who's been in the headlines for the past 24 hours
for all the wrong reasons, he decides to resign and says he's not coming
to the Conclave. All of this is happening while the faithful celebrate
the end of Benedict's papacy, while scandal and intrigue engulf some of
the men who will choose the next pope.

Even in his final days as pope, scandal continues to dog Benedict's
papacy and the Church. Italian newspapers headline rumors of blackmail
and conspiracy that the Vatican vehemently denies.

American Cardinal Roger Mahoney has so far ignored calls to stay home
from the conclave that chooses the next pope because of his role
protecting abusive priests. And Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who
commented on Mahoney's situation last week.

KEITH O'BRIEN: If someone has erred in some way or another, it doesn't stop their judgment in other matters.

THOMPSON: Today Cardinal O'Brien resigned, after being accused by
three priests and a former priest of inappropriate behavior going back
to the 1980s. Ugly headlines that one Vatican watcher says will shape
the deliberations of the Conclave.

GEORGE WEIGEL: Some of this is politics, but other parts of it are the
long-delayed reckoning with problems that require facing and correcting
in the Church.

THOMPSON: The scandals have left many of the faithful weary.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I'm a true believer and I hope that Catholicism gets a better name these days.

THOMPSON: Despite the controversy, St. Peter's Square still felt like a
well-behaved mosh pit during Pope Benedict's final Sunday blessing.
100,000 people came to say thank you to the 85-year-old Pontiff.
Speaking from his window for the last time, the Pope said he is not
abandoning the Church, but following God's call to more prayer and
meditation.

Now also this morning, the Pope met with the three cardinals who
prepared the secret dossier that's been talked so much about here,
regarding the Vati-leaks incident. And the Pope said that only he has
read that report and he will share it with the next pope. Savannah.

GUTHRIE: Alright, Anne Thompson at the Vatican for us this morning.
And a reminder, I will be live from the Vatican on Wednesday and
Thursday for the Pope's final public audience and his last day as leader
of the Church.

-- Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow Kyle Drennen on Twitter.

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